Toby Keith, the country music superstar, has revealed that he has been battling stomach cancer since late last year, but that he has received treatment and will be back on stage soon.
Keith said he was diagnosed with cancer last fall in a statement posted on his verified Twitter and Instagram accounts on Sunday.
“I’ve spent the last 6 months receiving chemo, radiation and surgery. So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover and relax,” the statement says. “I am looking forward to spending time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can’t wait. -T”
Keith is set to perform at the Ribfest in Illinois on June 17, according to his official website.
According to the site, he published his newest album, “Peso in My Pocket,” last year after taking a break from touring due to the Covid epidemic.
Keith received the National Medal of Arts from then-President Donald Trump in 2021, which the National Endowment for the Arts described as “the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government.”
“Toby Keith is a singer, songwriter, musician, and humanitarian who has completed 11 USO Tours to date. He has 32 #1 singles” In a press release from January 2021, the National Endowment for the Arts stated.
Keith, who was born in Oklahoma, debuted in 1993 with his debut album and is best known for the songs “Red Solo Cup” and “I Wanna Talk About Me.” In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, his song “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American),” released in 2002, made him a household name.
Keith has played hundreds of gigs for US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as at events hosted by Presidents Donald Trump, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush.